The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal education law that outlines guidelines for schools to ensure that students with disabilities receive Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). As a public charter school in Arizona, Arizona School for Arts participates in the Child Find process (a component of IDEA) to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities within our served population who are in need of special education and related services.
To qualify for special education, a student must be found eligible by a multidisciplinary evaluation team. Eligibility is two-fold and includes meeting criteria in one or more of the disability classifications and showing the need for specially designed instruction to meet a student’s unique needs. Below are the disability classifications recognized by IDEA:
Once qualified, Arizona School for the Arts provides special education services in accordance with a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) as mandated by IDEA.
At ASA, we aim to partner with parents to compose and deliver a free appropriate high-quality public education that blends arts and academics. We believe that this type of education will breed confident and creative global citizens.
Special Education Records
Special education records will be destroyed five (5) years after a student has withdrawn, transferred, graduated, or been exited from special education services at Arizona School for the Arts. This school year (2023-2024), we will destroy the records of students who left the school or exited services in the 2018-2019 school year. If you are a parent or student and need a copy of your student’s special education records for any reason, please contact essrecords@goasa.org.
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EMAIL ESS DIRECTOR
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, commonly referred to as “Section 504,” is a federal statute prohibiting discrimination against persons based on their disability by institutions that receive federal financial assistance. Section 504 regulations are under the jurisdiction of the Office of Civil Rights (OCR).
Section 504 ensures that disabled students have educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to non-disabled students. Students can be referred for a 504 evaluation by a parent or guardian, teacher, counselor, or other school staff member who suspects that the student may meet 504 eligibility criteria. An eligible student under Section 504 is a student who has (1) a mental or physical impairment, (2) which substantially limits, and (3) one or more major life activities. It is important to understand that all three criteria must be met before the student is eligible for Section 504 protection. It is possible for a student to be eligible for Section 504 protection and not a Section 504 accommodation plan. Like its name, an accommodation plan is a plan that outlines accommodations needed in the school environment so that the student has equal access to the same opportunities as non-disabled students.
EMAIL ESS DIRECTOR
ASA has a full-time social worker on staff to support social & emotional wellness. The mission is to create a positive impact on student achievement by supporting the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development of each child. Our social worker, along with caregivers, teachers, and staff members, identifies needs that might interfere with student learning and provides intervention to support the whole child’s growth.
Social Worker Roles
We are committed to supporting all students, including children and youth experiencing homelessness, to provide equal access to public education. We work diligently to ensure all students have everything they need, including food, transportation, and clothing. We want children enrolled and successful in school, no matter what their housing situation may be.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act defines educational rights and responsibilities to children and youth who are experiencing homelessness. Each state and local educational agency shall ensure that each educationally homeless child and youth have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including public preschool education, provided to housed children and youth. Further, homeless children and youth shall have immediate access to the curriculum and any supportive services needed to ensure that they have an opportunity to be successful in school.
If your family is lacking a fixed, adequate, and regular place to sleep, please contact: